Representatives from Africa made a strong case for shifting the debate from ‘aid’ to ‘development effectiveness’ and highlighted the critical role of capacity development at the recent ‘Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness’ in Busan.
The African continent was well represented at Busan at the continental, regional and country levels through delegations reflecting the views of both government and non-governmental organisations.
In the months and weeks running up to the event, arguably the biggest of the 2011 development calendar, prominent African organisations like The African Union and its programme, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), actively mobilised stakeholders from across the continent to prepare a common position for Busan.
“Capacity development, whichever way you look at it, comes out as central in pushing for the quality of development,” said Florence Nazare, Head of Capacity Development at NEPAD.
NEPAD has been instrumental in developing the AU-endorsed Capacity Development Strategic Framework (CDSF) and is convinced of the centrality of capacity development to the continent’s ability to secure prosperity and well-being for its citizens.
The successful launch of a knowledge exchange website, The African Platform for Development Effectiveness, was also a sign of Africa's efforts to forge a multi-stakeholder commitment for the 'beyond aid' approach.
Ms Nazare would have liked to have seen a more pronounced reference to capacity development in the opening paragraphs of the Busan outcome statement issued as the three day event closed on the 1 December 2011.
“For us we would have been happier if we had had a more amplified capacity development element,” said Ms Nazare, “In the preamble, we would have loved to have capacity development anchored strongly in there.”
Ms Nazare remains encouraged by the high level of attention paid to capacity development in Busan. Indeed, for NEPAD, the focus on effective institutions and working in country systems is key and Ms Nazare was reassured that these topics received the attention they deserved in Busan. Working in country systems, remarked Ms Nazare, needs to be approached from a capacity development perspective, making it more than a public finance management and efficiency issue but a central part of facilitating endogenous development and self reliance.
The CDSF hinges on six strategic cornerstones and underscores the importance of approaching capacity development from a holistic perspective. This implies taking due account of the context or enabling environment within which organisations and institutions function, and it means addressing capacity development beyond the realm of skills development alone.
Many capacity development presentations highlighted the importance of effective institutions during the Busan sessions and Ms Nazare underscored the inter-relationship between governance, ownership and capacity development.
Building effective institutions that are capable of delivering services to the community need also to be held to account by the citizens they serve. As such, any capacity development strategy needs to recognise the role of non-state actors in forging effective institutions through inclusive governance.
Capacity development is not then only about the nuts and bolts of organisational strengthening, it also includes civic education and empowering non-state actors including the private sector, non-governmental organisations and - crucially - parliamentarians.
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